7 Cities Where Cruise Ships Are No Longer Welcome

These destinations have turned on cruise control.

As fun and relaxing as a cruise ship might be for passengers, that carefree vibe isn’t always shared by the town or city in which the ship docks. Several thousand people descending on a destination daily during high season—multiply that by three or four if there are other mega-ships in port on the same day—can make local life unbearable. Excess noise, crowds, traffic, and parking all chip away at a destination’s charm when you’ve got 15,000 people walking around snapping photos and visiting restaurants and shops.

This increased passenger load also negatively impacts the environment. Gas emissions from the ship itself lead to poor air quality, and all those taxis and vans picking up passengers for shore excursions also make the air less clean.

With the recent announcement that Amsterdam will soon be off-limits for cruise ships, we’re taking a look at other cities saying “no” to mega cruise ships.